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hooked on plants interview

Lindsay O’Donnell has been meat-free for almost 20 years and has been promoting a cruelty-free lifestyle for just as long through volunteering with organizations like Peta, Earth Save, and Sea Shepherd. She ran a cooking blog, hosted vegan supper clubs, and now keeps people informed on food issues through her Instagram page Lindsay is Vegan!

Today she runs the food marketing company Piquant Marketing and works to raise awareness on food issues and promote veganism. Let’s hear more from her!

How long have you been vegan, and what was the pivotal moment for making the change?

This might sound weird, but there are a few things in my life that I just always knew. Like I always knew I’d be a vegetarian and a vegan. I remember my mom having a friend who was vegetarian and I remember her skin just GLOWED. I remember just knowing that I would eventually be a vegetarian too. It’s funny because my kid isn’t vegan but she says the same thing to me- that she will be when she grows up.

But the catalyst to really make changes was when I really became an activist in my teens. I volunteered with Peta, Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd, The SPCA, EarthSave and eventually co-founded an ocean education non-profit too. I felt like I was asking a big change of the world and I couldn’t expect it without walking the walk myself.

How long did it take for you to transition?

A long time! I get people that messaging me all the time and they’re apologizing because they’re cutting out meat but haven’t cut out cheese or whatever. I cut out red meat at 16, chicken a year later and seafood later. I went vegan at 26, making the transition 10 whole years!

The key is finding replacements instead of cutting stuff out (think abundance and fun, instead of restriction). When I first went vegan I just drank coke and ate bananas so obviously I failed (and was an idiot). If you’re making changes, celebrate that and now that we’re all on a food journey …and if you’re doing the first step of trying to be better with your food choices you are already making a difference.

If there was just one thing you wish everyone in the entire world know regarding veganism, what would it be?

God, it’s so hard to talk about being vegan without sounding smug. For example, I can’t really think of a good reason to still eat meat (unless you’re in a remote village and it’s your primary food source).

Ok, here’s the thing. Being vegan makes me feel AMAZING. My body bounces back faster than when I ate meat, I feel lighter, and I’m happier. Being vegan has given me so much joy. I wish people know how wonderful and beautiful it is. People think it’s about restrictions and deprivation but for me it’s been the best thing I could have ever done for my mental and physical health. I really think that if you haven’t even tried veganism…you don’t know what you’re missing.

You are SO inspiring over on instagram, and give out so many amazing facts. What are your favourite resources for finding vegan news/animal rights news/mind blowing research?

I really appreciate that! It’s funny, when I first when vegetarian it felt like it was a much more confrontational time. It’s hard to explain but people challenged you constantly on your food choices. Like I needed to have my reasons and facts for everything. Going vegetarian, and then vegan in the 90’s was like going to debate class.

So, I just signed up for every newsletter I could think of. That way I was constantly getting nuggets of information without being overwhelmed. I still get about 50 newsletters a day…which is now overwhelming! Now there’s documentaries and social media but I still mostly read books and get newsletters. My favourite newsletters are from Peta, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, and Daily Kos.

What are your best tips for dealing with social settings for new vegans?

1: I constantly feel like I’m not making any difference in the world and feel sort of burnt out by it. Things take time. I once worked with a woman who said she would never give up meat or cheese and loved meat too much. Many years later she emailed me to say she went vegan, is now a big activist online, and said she always remembered some of the things I talked about with her! Seeds take a while to grow but know that by living by example you’re creating change.

2: Sometimes people are just trying to get a rise out of you. It’s about them, not you.

3: You convert more people by making them feel encouraged or empowered than by making them feel guilty or marginalized.

Where do you see our world in 2050 in regards to the plant-based movement?

This one is so hard because it blows my mind how main-stream veganism is. I sound so old, but I really can’t believe it. I’m reading statistics that says all meat will be plant-based by 2040 which…I don’t know if I believe?

I’m super curious to see what happens when lab meat starts becoming affordable. Many people are vegan for mainly ethical reasons, so if you only eat lab meat…are you still vegan or will that be something new? Like culture-vegans? I don’t know, it will be interesting.

I feel like consumers are generally going to have higher ethical and health standards but I can see the vegan community become fractured over things like lab meat but I also think that’s a wonderful problem to have.

I can see eating meat becoming like smoking…like there are many people that do it but it’s not seen as healthy or productive and it’s taxed heavily.

I feel like I kind of fell into the food business! I had actually always wanted to work at Lululemon and interviewed there a few times but…was never successful. I then saw a posting for a marketing job at Whole Foods Market and it clicked. It was like…this is where I need to be. These are my people! People who were passionate about farmers, food, the environment, and animal welfare.

I worked there for 4 years before being a part of a big layoff of their marketing division. I sort of bounced around and realized I needed to stay in food. It’s where I had made relationships and was spending all my spare time.

I basically wanted to do what I did at Whole Foods Market! So we started doing branding, social media, event planning, community partnerships, content marketing, and business planning for food brands. Then, last year I decided it was time to use the tools I had to make a difference and make a statement so we created core values for the clients we work with which included no meat products. Overall we have almost completely vegan clients mostly because that’s who is attracted to work with us.

Now we’re about to turn 3 years old and it’s totally wild.

For those rainy summer days, when you want to feel cozy fall feelings!

Mariko Michasiw aka ‘Naturally North Van’ is all about healthy livin! She’s a Mama of 2, and an essential oils guru! Her jam is wellness, and she’s an incredible educator when it comes down to it. After going to an essential oil workshop and hearing about all of the benefits of oils from Mariko, it completely opened my mind to essential oils, so I had to interview her to share the goodness with all of you…along with her Cardamom Apple Breakfast Muffin recipe with essential oils (what!)

Side note: I have no affiliation with dōTERRA, but find that all of the benefits of essential oils is so fascinating.

Hooked On Plants: Mariko, how were you introduced to essential oils and how long have you been using them for?

Mariko Michasiw: I have actually been using the most common essential oils for years! I used Tea Tree for face spot treatments in high school and then Lavender for relaxation in adulthood. The thing is, at that time, I had no clue what the oils could do beyond those two things. It was actually my husband that got me interested in oils because he bought a diffuser (to make my house smell better) and then bought a few pre-made roller bottles for various things like digestion and immune support.

When I was invited to my first essential oils class, I was intrigued but it took me about 6 months of pondering it before I ended up attending one. I am so thankful that I did because the knowledge that was shared blew my mind! I couldn’t believe that you could use oils for so many things! As a natural mama, I embraced the idea of using plant medicine to support my family as a first defence. Don’t get me wrong, I was totally skeptical, but then I kept having AHA! moments with these oils. From pain relief, to immune support, to stress relief, I kept having positive experiences. I had used so many other brands prior to dōTERRA and honestly didn’t think that any of them worked. These were special. The purity and potency was beyond anything I’d experienced before. I’m about a year and a half into using these oils and they have completely changed my life! I rarely use pharmaceuticals now and my home no longer needs harsh toxic chemicals for cleaning.

HOP:What are all of the ways can you use essential oils?

MM: There are typically 3 ways to use essential oils! Aromatically, topically and internally.

Using essential oils aromatically is as simple as opening a bottle and smelling it, but could also be using a diffuser, or putting a drop on your clothes or pillow. My favourite pick me up in the middle of the day is taking a drop of peppermint and rubbing it in my hands and cupping them in front of my face so I can deeply breathe in the aroma. Aromatic use is actually the fastest way to use oils for emotional support. By smelling the oils, we have a direct link to our limbic system which is responsible for our emotions, behaviour and memory. This means that we can use essential oils to quickly calm us or brighten our spirits. Pretty cool right?

For topical use, I always recommend diluting essential oils (especially spicy ones like oregano or cinnamon) with a carrier oil like coconut, almond or jojoba. This not only makes our oils go further but also holds it in the tissues rather than flashing off into the air. The molecules in essential oils are so small that they can easily penetrate the skin. The best places to apply oils are on pulse points, the bottoms of feet, or directly on the area you are trying to treat. Be sure to avoid your eyes, ears and nose though!

When I speak of internal use of oils, I am only talking about dōTERRA because they are pure and go through many levels of testing, but not every oil is ok to consume. I do not know the quality of other oil brands so be sure to check the label to see if it is approved for consumption. I use a citrus oil like Lemon daily in my water (one drop is plenty) for it’s alkalizing effects on the body. I also love using citrus oils in my salad dressings as a replacement for zest. When I don’t have a specific herb or spice at home, sometimes I’ll just substitute a drop of essential oil in a recipe.

HOP: Can you let us know the top 5 general benefits of diffusing essential oils in your home?

5) Amazing aroma without the chemicals – ditch the candles for this cleaner alternative.

HOP: Who can benefit from essential oils?

MM: Anyone and everyone! The beauty of having 100% pure essential oils is that you can moderate the quantity that each person receives by diluting them with carrier oil (ie. coconut, jojoba, sweet almond). While diffusing essential oils is often enough for tiny babies, we also have the option of heavily diluting oils for them if they need digestive support or pain relief, for example. Essential oils are effective for supporting emotions, especially for children who are very responsive to oils. I love using dōTERRA Balance and Wild Orange to help my children feel calmer. My kids have stopped napping so this combo is now my “quiet time” blend.

They’re amazing for adults to calm stress and anxiety (my favourites are dōTERRA Serenity and Vetiver)! They boost our immune systems (On Guard), and help with sleep. They are also a great alternative for seniors who are often put on many medications to deal with their symptoms without ever knowing the root cause of their issue. The nice thing about essential oils is that there are very few side effects to using them, however it is important to remember that they are both powerful and potent. It’s always a good idea to do your own research on what is safe based on other medication that you may be taking.

Pregnant women can also find a lot of relief by using essential oils. I wish I had been educated on essential oils during my pregnancies to help with the nausea, cold and flus, and other discomforts that I was feeling.

Infants, toddlers, pregnant women and the elderly are more sensitive and should dilute more than adults when using essential oils.

The last group, pets! While not all oils are safe for pets (do your research before using them), there are many that are very supportive for them. Treat them like the previous group and dilute because they are more sensitive as well (especially their sense of smell).

HOP: The ways to use essential oils are endless! But, what’s your personal favourite way to use them? Do you have a favourite oil?

MM: It’s so hard for me to say a favourite way, but I have a ton of custom rollers floating around my house, purse, and car. Rollers are perfect for on the go application, and I love convenience!

My favourite oil can change minute to minute, but I have a special place in my heart for Balance! It was the first oil I ordered beyond the intro kit because it was described as the Grounding blend and who doesn’t need more Balance in their lives?! As a mom of 2 tiny kids, it sounded perfect to me. It has a ton of wood oils along with Frankincense and I feel connected to the earth when I use it (versus the previous head spinning I was experiencing). It kind of smells like a walk in the woods and blends really well with a few of my other faves: Serenity, Citrus Bliss, or Wild Orange.

HOP: You can make recipes with oils! So amazing. Can you give us your favourite recipe with essential oils and let us know what benefits do you get from it?

MM: These muffins have so many benefits that you can eat them for breakfast! Super nutritious, and delicious! Another awesome benefit is that Cardamom oil is supportive for the digestive system and it’s an aphrodisiac… Not all oils are ok to ingest…doTERRA is approved for ingestion by Health Canada. Enjoy these babies anytime of the day!

Mariko is passionate about educating people about the benefits of essential oils and helping them along their wellness journey. She teach classes in people’s homes and does lifestyle overviews (in person or over the phone) to help integrate these beautiful oils into your homes. She has a ton of education resources and groups that people can follow along to learn more. Connect with her and she’ll hook you up!

Rose is the Cheap Lazy Vegan. With over 450,000 youtube subscribers, she’s doing an amazing job at spreading the word that vegan doesn’t have to mean complicated or expensive.

She makes vegan easy and attainable. If you’re still skepticle… watch one of Rose’s youtube videos showing the ease of delicious 10 minutes meals, and you’ll be blown away at the simplicity of it all.

Along with being a youtube star, she now has an all vegan café (SaVeg Café) in Calgary, AB.

To celebrate National Vegetarian Week, it’s the perfect time to get to know Rose and bring some inspiration to you guys for cheap and easy vegan meals!

I was lucky enough to stop by the new café with my glorious Grandma to meet this beautiful soul! We also met her Mama who cooked up an amazing Tofu Sweet Potato Korean dish and a super spicy soup that we easily polished off (so dang good).

Let’s get to know Rose.

Hooked On Plants: Cheap Lazy Vegan resonates with hundreds of thousands of people now! What was your first youtube video about?

Cheap Lazy Vegan: The first video I did was a simple introduction of my channel where I explain that you can be cheap AND lazy on a vegan diet… along with a “What I Ate in a Day” where I showed viewers some easy, simple meals that I ate in a day.

HOP: Did you come up with the awesome name, Cheap Lazy Vegan? Is there a story behind that?

CLV: I did… I had just moved to London, UK at the time and I was making very little money but spending a lot simply because I was living in one of the most expensive cities in the world. I found myself buying affordable groceries and making very inexpensive meals. I realized that I was super lazy when it came to cooking. At the same time, I’ve always been a foodie so I always have enjoyed taking photos of food. So I just came up with an Instagram page with the handle @cheaplazyvegan which is how it all started… 🙂

HOP: How long have you been vegan, and what was the main reason? Animals? Environment? or Health?

CLV: I’ve been mostly plant-based for about 7 years total (I became a pescatarian at first, staying away from meat, dairy and eggs, but still had a hard time staying away from fish) and now I’ve been VEGAN for almost 4 years. I went vegan purely for ethical & animal rights reasons and the other stuff (like health and environmental benefits) were just little bonuses for me. I read some books and watched some movies, which really opened up my eyes to the realities of what happens to the animals that I claimed to “love”.

HOP: Did you take your time to take animal products out of your diet, or did you go completely vegan overnight?

CLV: It took time. I think it takes time to get used to the dietary aspect but also to mentally get your head around the whole idea. I first gave up meat, then about a month later stopped eating dairy and eggs, then lastly I quit fish, years later.

HOP: It is SO exciting that you’ve opened a 100% vegan café in ‘CowTown’! With Calgary being known for it’s Alberta Beef, it’s so it’s so inspiring that you’ve taken the initiative to get more vegan food into people’s mouths! Plus, you’re working with your Mom! How did you come up with the name SaVeg?

CLV: Haha, I really wish I could take credit for the name, but it was actually my friend’s sister that had the idea. I liked the trendiness of the name and the smart play-on-words.

HOP: What was the catalyst for opening SaVeg Café?

CLV: My mom already owned the cafe but it wasn’t a vegan one. I helped out there for just a few hours each day and I felt that my own time and the cafe space could be used in a better way. I wanted to be more involved and help out more, but I knew I couldn’t invest my own time/money/energy in a business that sold animal products. So, I approached my mom about the idea of fully changing the menu and concept of the cafe into a vegan one (and of course, me taking half ownership!). Calgary also is lacking in vegan establishments (in my opinion), so it made sense from a business perspective as well.

HOP: What are you excited about this year? Do you have any other cool projects you’re working on?

CLV: At the moment, I’m trying to juggle doing my social media and running the cafe! I’m focusing on getting the cafe established and learning to manage my time before moving onto other projects. I definitely would like to get involved in some new projects in the future!

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Hi, I'm Julia! I like to simplify plant-based eating and make yummy recipes. I'm a Registered Holistic Nutritionist, certified plant-based chef, Olympian, and I make cereal (Jules Fuel). Enjoy!
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